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Envelopes with microplastics generated from recycled plastic bags for crude oil sorption
Author(s) -
Martins Larissa S.,
Zanini Noelle C.,
Botelho Alexandre L. S.,
Mulinari Daniella R.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.25734
Subject(s) - microplastics , sorption , sieve (category theory) , sorbent , high density polyethylene , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , materials science , particle size , porosity , oil spill , polyethylene , waste management , chemical engineering , environmental chemistry , environmental science , composite material , environmental engineering , adsorption , chemistry , organic chemistry , mathematics , combinatorics , engineering
Oil spill accidents in marine environments and the lack of disposal of post‐consumer plastic are environmental problems worldwide. This study presents a sustainable alternative for both issues through envelopes filled with microplastics (MPs) from recycled bags for the sorption of spilled crude oil. Through particle size analysis by three different sieves (4, 9, and 20 mesh), different MP sizes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), density, contact angle (CA), and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). According to their sizes, the MPs were distributed in envelopes and submitted to crude oil sorption capacity and efficiency evaluation. Three MP particle sizes were obtained (from the largest to the smallest, according to the sieve mesh, MP4, MP9, and MP20). SEM images of samples exhibited irregular and porous surfaces, and MP4 had the smallest pore size (8.6 μm). BET showed that MP4 had the highest surface area (0.074 m 2 /g). The CA > 90° exposed that all samples were hydrophobic. FTIR spectrum demonstrated that the samples from the recycled bags were made of high density polyethylene (HDPE). The MP4 envelopes also had the best crude oil sorption results in capacity and efficiency (1.73 g/g and 68%, respectively), being a promising recycled sorbent in crude oil spillage applications.